Comoros

Mr. President of the General Assembly, Mr. Secretary-General, Majesties, Highnesses, Excellencies, Distinguished Representatives of Countries and Institutions, in your respective ranks and capacities,

AssalamuAlaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Ta'ala Wa Barakatuh!

It is with genuine pleasure that I extend, first of all, to the American authorities, our sincere thanks for the warm welcome they extend to us each time we gather here in New York to take part in this great annual gathering of the international community.

I then extend my warm congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Dennis Francis on his brilliant election to the presidency of this 78th ordinary session of the United Nations General Assembly.

I am all the more pleased that it is a distinguished representative of the Small Island Developing States, of which my country is a part, who assumes this eminent responsibility.

There is no doubt, Excellency, that your professional qualities and your experience, combined with the particular sensitivity to development issues that is inherent to insularity, will be a guarantee of success for the work of this session.

I also take this opportunity to pay well-deserved tribute to your predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, for the efficiency with which he carried out his noble mission on behalf of us all.

Lastly, on behalf of my country and the African Union, I extend all my thanks to His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for his sustained commitment, as well as that of his entire team, in the service of our common institution, for the good of all.

Majesties, Highnesses, Excellencies,

As Chairperson of the African Union, I wish to bring before this august assembly today the voice of all African States, which continue to believe in a fairer and more effective multilateralism, one that is more inclusive and capable of bringing about the profound changes so greatly desired, for a better life on the continent and throughout the world.

The realization of this aspiration will come, we are convinced, from an in-depth reform of the United Nations system.

Africa, where 3.8 billion people will live by the end of this century, and which intends to play a crucial role in achieving the SDGs, has the right to participate in global decision-making bodies, and to gain access, among other things, to the Security Council as a permanent member, thereby enjoying its rights in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus.

While being a matter of equity, this reform of the United Nations, which Africa is calling for loudly and clearly, is also a matter of effectiveness, since it concerns the legitimacy, and therefore the effectiveness, of multilateralism.

I take this opportunity, moreover, to reiterate, on behalf of Africa, our thanks to the members of the G20, who have just admitted the African Union, which I have the honor of chairing this year 2023, into their Group.

This diplomatic victory for Africa, but also for the G20, achieved through India, where this historic decision was made, carries hope, especially at a time when a synergy of action is needed to lift our countries out of socio-economic distress.

Honorable audience, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The theme of this 78th Assembly, "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all," comes at the right time.

The African continent faces numerous challenges that risk compromising its future, and I believe that this trust and solidarity, highlighted this year, will provide the appropriate solutions to our concerns.

Africa is facing the challenge of food security, which is becoming increasingly significant on the continent.

Despite the immense arable land available on the continent and the skilled and competent workforce it possesses, food insecurity continues to affect millions of people.

The effects of climate change, as well as the numerous conflicts on the continent, exacerbate this situation, as does the Russian-Ukrainian war, which has led to the suspension of grain and fertilizer supplies, thereby causing unprecedented inflation.

You will agree with me that it is inconceivable that, with all its arable land, the continent remains a major importer of agricultural products, which contributes to a significant deficit in its net agricultural trade balance.

Thus, at a time when we speak of solidarity, it is time for partnerships between African governments, development organizations, and foreign and local private sectors to be strengthened, in order to address these challenges effectively and sustainably.

It is also time for our partners to support us in implementing ambitious reforms, such as the transfer of expertise and technology, in order to help hard-hit countries promote agricultural development, and more specifically, to produce and process their products locally, thereby adding value and combating shortages and famine.

We must also strengthen the fight against the effects of climate change, because, as we are all experiencing, our planet is constantly facing various climatic hazards, and more particularly cyclones, floods, seaquakes, earthquakes, rising sea levels and drought, to name but a few.

These frequent disasters naturally have devastating impacts on economies, social infrastructure, agriculture, and populations, particularly the most vulnerable, and lead to health crises that heighten the continent's vulnerability.

I take this opportunity to reiterate our heartfelt condolences and solidarity with our brothers in Morocco and Libya, whose countries have just suffered enormous human and material losses as a result of these natural disasters.

I also think of the many countries in Europe, Asia, and America that are suffering the full brunt of the devastating consequences of forest fires, floods, and storms.

In addition to the many lives lost, the damage caused by natural disasters, it must be emphasized, is enormous and requires reconstruction and recovery costs that are not always within the reach of our States.

I therefore call on the international community to prioritize common, structured, and better-adapted approaches, particularly in terms of financing, to respond to these large-scale disasters, so that we can provide our populations with the necessary support for their recovery.

But above all, I call for the effective implementation of recommendations related to environmental protection and preservation, and for the fulfillment of commitments made in favor of adaptation and mitigation.

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and promises of funding to combat climate change must indeed be translated into concrete action if we want to live in a safer and more prosperous world.

I therefore call for support for the Moroni Declaration on the Blue Economy of last June, and the Nairobi Declaration of last September, so that our countries can defend, with one voice, their common interests in favor of sustainable development, particularly at the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, for which we wish every success.

Finally, I wish to make an appeal in favor of strengthening the capacities of UN-Habitat, through more substantial support in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, so that this agency can better support our African cities, which are rich in enormous potential but have become highly vulnerable to climate change.

Honorable audience, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I cannot speak of the challenges facing the African continent without dwelling on the complex and worrying political and security situation prevailing there, particularly in the Sahel.

As we all know, the Sahel, this region of Africa, has since 2010 been heavily affected by insecurity and terrorism, with terrorist groups intensifying attacks against security forces as well as civilians and infrastructure.

It is therefore urgent that the international community strengthen its efforts to support us in stabilizing this region, knowing that in the global village in which we live, crises are easily imported, with consequences for economies and, above all, for inter- and intra-state investments.

Certainly, it is primarily up to Africans to implement economic and social development plans, within the framework of Agenda 2063, to combat poverty and youth unemployment in particular, and to prevent young people from becoming hostages to extremists of all stripes.

However, it is also the duty of the international community to support Africa in this endeavor, because our actions must be pooled in order to have any chance of being effective.

In addition to terrorism, Africa also faces the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government, which compromise democracy, peace, security, stability, and its socio-economic development.

It is in this regard that the African Union has imposed sanctions against those who commit such acts and demands a swift return to constitutional order.

I solemnly reiterate that there can be no political life worthy of the name without respect for electoral deadlines and legitimate institutional mechanisms, which form the foundation of public life.

Excellencies, Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Africa, although under pressure, is fighting for its regional integration in order to emerge from economic distress.

The economic shocks suffered by our countries, particularly inflation and logistical and food crises, have seriously affected our growth potential, the daily lives of our populations, and the stability of our States.

It is in this spirit that the African Continental Free Trade Area, the great continental common market, has been implemented since 2021, in the hope of reinvigorating Africa's growth and GDP.

With this essential tool, which I have the mission of accelerating during my term as Chairperson of the AU, the continent is giving itself the means to create leverage effects that will enable it to generate the wealth needed to better cope with its demographic growth.

The AfCFTA will indeed contribute to the realization of our common ambition to move towards the industrialization of the continent, for Africa must cease to be a mere supplier of raw materials.

While helping to strengthen our secondary and tertiary sectors in order to create jobs, the AfCFTA will also stimulate the transfer of technology and encourage foreign investment, since it will open up to other continents immediate access to a market of more than one billion people.

Allow me to reiterate here our request for support in strengthening the strategic partnership between Africa and CELAC, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, indeed even its institutionalization, and the establishment of a joint AU-CELAC Commission.

This partnership will not only strengthen South-South cooperation, in the mutual interest of our States, but will also better capitalize on the partnership with our Friends and Brothers in the North.

Excellencies, Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Like the rest of the world, African countries need, more than ever, peace and security in order to enjoy better living conditions.

Peace and development will also depend on resolving political and territorial problems related to the sovereignty of States and the dignity of nations.

It was these concerns that prompted some of my African peers and myself to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin, as part of an African Peace Mission last June, in Kyiv and Saint Petersburg respectively.

Thus, we stand ready to support all other initiatives aimed at helping to end this war, which is negatively impacting our ambitions for the well-being of our populations.

I reiterate, still in the spirit of preserving peace and stability, and on behalf of the African Union, the imperative need to reach a just and equitable solution to the question of Palestine, a solution that establishes the right of the Palestinian people to a sovereign State, living in perfect harmony and security with the State of Israel.

I also solemnly recall, as Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Union of the Comoros, the Comorian nature of the island of Mayotte.

I recall that in order to move forward in the management of this issue, we have opted for dialogue with the French side, in order to find a solution to this unfortunate dispute, in the interest of our two countries.

Excellencies, Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I wish to emphasize my profound commitment, which is also that of the Comorian Government, to honoring institutions and democratic life in the Comoros, by organizing the upcoming 2024 presidential and gubernatorial elections in a free, transparent, and democratic manner.

I also wish to recall that the Union of the Comoros has been able to put an end to the cycle of political instability that had characterized Comorian political life since independence in 1975, thanks to the policy of national reconciliation that I have pursued since 2000.

This policy of reconciliation, supported by the African Union, the United Nations, and all our other partners, has brought stability to the country, and we have a duty to consolidate and perpetuate it.

Indeed, since 2002, the date of May 26 has become a symbolic reference point for the transfer of power in the Comoros, since on that date the transfer of power takes place, resulting from free and transparent presidential elections.

It is with this constant concern for preserving peace and stability in the Union of the Comoros that I once again request your support and accompaniment, so that the upcoming presidential and gubernatorial elections, scheduled for December and January, can be held under very good conditions.

In conclusion, I remain confident that May 26, 2024, will once again mark the political maturity of the people of the Comoros, and that the inauguration ceremony of the next President of the Union of the Comoros will symbolize the anchoring and strength of Comorian democracy.

Thank you.